Moroccan modernist painter Mohamed Hamidi has died at the age of 84, as announced by the Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah. Born in Casablanca in 1941, Hamidi studied at the School of Fine Arts of Casablanca and the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris. A founding father of Moroccan modern art, he returned to Morocco in 1967 and taught at the Casablanca School, helping to democratize its curriculum. He participated in the landmark 1969 exhibition “Manifesto” at Jamaa El Fna Square in Marrakech and founded the Moroccan Association of Plastic Arts in 1972. His abstract, erotic paintings incorporated curving lines, traditional Maghreb motifs, and geometric shapes.
Hamidi’s death marks the loss of a key figure in the postcolonial Moroccan avant-garde. His work, along with that of the Casablanca School, has gained increasing international attention in recent decades, reflecting a broader interest in African and Middle Eastern modernism. The Centre Pompidou acquired two of his paintings in 2019, underscoring his growing institutional recognition. His legacy as an educator and advocate for Third World artistic autonomy continues to influence contemporary art discourse.